Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1887-03-10
EMIGRATION FOR 1887.
A Clear and Comprehensive Re-
view Of the Seasons
Outlook.

An ALERT Representative has taken ad,
| vantage of the presence of Mr.. P. B.
Groat, the accomplished emigration
agent of the Northern Pacific, who has
been in the city for the past few days, to
obtain some reliable information con-
cerning the emigration prospects for this
season. The following facts have been
gathered from Mr.. Groat upon the sub
ject.
Opinions based upon the number of
letters of inquiry received by the land
department of the Northern Pacific rail
road company, and the general interest
otherwise manifested by intending set
tiers, throughout the United States,
Canada and in Europe, in soliciting in
formation concerning the agricultural
resources of North Dakota, leads to the
belief that a good average emigration
may be expected to locate in this portion
of the territory the coming season. The
short crops of last season, followed by a
winter with an unusual depth of snow
fall and accompanied by lower average
temperature than has been experienced
in any previous winter, will no doubt
have tendency to deter some families
from locating here this year. While set
tlement will be somewhat restricted from
these causes, yet the pre-eminent advan-
tages with whichNorth Dakota is favored,
in it's unsurpassed agricultural and pas
tOral resources and its nOtedly healthful
climate, will insure fairly large influx
of new settlers during the year just en-
tered upon. The emigration will proba-
bly, be fully up to- if it does not surpas S,
that of the past two years, and it the ex-
pectations of the farmers are realized by
harvesting good crops this season-such
Yields as usually follow the winters which
have considerable snowfall-North Dako-
ia is likely to experience another boom
in the year succeeding this. In any
event, it is confidently anticipated that
steady flow of emigration will continue
from year to year until the fertile prairies
will count compact population. The
large quantity of unoccupied govern
ment lands open to homestead, pre-emp-
tion and tree-culture entry, and the de-
sirable low price railroad lands, with the
highly productive soil, cannot fail to at
tract large numbers to this region.
The inquiries relative to the induce
ments which North Dakota offers for sue
cessful farming, are mainly from the best
class of people and the communities re-
ceiving such accessions will be largely
benefited thereby. Speculative values
of real estate in the older states, and es-
pecially in the cities and towns east of
the territory and at Missouri river points
to the south, are reaching such advanced
prices that it is reasonable to predict
that the surplus capital now seeking in
vestment and finding the values of all
property at those points too inflated,
will naturally turn to the cheap farming
lands and Gown properties further west.
The farming lands and real estate in the
cities and towns in North Dakota are
held at such moderate rates IN COMPARE
son with similar property in other sec
tions that they offer fine opportunities
for The employment of capital. Although
the unexpected loss from reduced crops
this year has been a source of great dis
appointment to the people and in some
instances has proved a serious drawback,
yet the inhabitants are not discouraged
and are, generally speaking. in good con-
dition. In short the assertion IS admls-
sible that there is no other section of
country that can, as we'll withstand an
occasional loss of this character as North
Dakota, The productive capabilities of
it's lands are of such superior order that
good yields OF all crops are the rule,
rather than the exception, and this fact
as it becomes more widely known will
be so thoroughly appreciated by those
looking for new homes, that it must
naturally result in an early settlement of
the entire region.